The growing number of children diagnosed with measles and rubella in the Ashanti region has become a major health concern for the Ghana Health Service.
The number of cases in the region is said to have moved from 9 in 2018 to 114 in mid 2024.
Though records show that no child has died from measles in Ghana for the past 15 years, the disease is endemic and health officials fear the surge in cases may likely not only maim children but also cause their death if not tackled.
Alarmed with the worrying trend, the Regional Health Directorate is targeting vaccinating 1 million children between 9 to 59 months in the region as part of the national vaccination exercise to prevent the surge in cases and associated mortality. "Measles Rubella kills and comes with a lot of complications as well.